Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus.



B. P. OLER.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC GONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED HAR. 1,'1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. OLER, OF ELMH'URST, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOB TO THE UNION SWITCH &

SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION F PENN- pMLwAY-'rr'.ArFIc-coNrRoLtINe APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application nled March 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,400.

SYLVANIA.

1,116,320. Specication o! Letters Patent.

I To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. OLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmhurst, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Traffic- Controlling Apparatus, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates to railway traffic controllin apparatus and particularly to apparatus forgiving a signal aboard a moving car or train or for controlling the speed of a car or train.

I will describe one form and arrangement' of apparatus embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form and arrangement of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing in side elevation portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in Aeach of the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A, A des1gnate the track rails of a railway, and B is a vehicle adapted to travel thereon. The vehi cle B may for example be a locomotive car, or train. This vehicle B is provided with a suitable governing means such for example as an air brake train pipe 14 in which is a valve V controlled b v an electromagnet M. lVhen the electromagnet M is energized it holds the valve V closed and the brakes are therefore not applied, but when the electromagnet M is denergized it allows valve V to open thereby causing an application of the air brakes. This arrangementof control of air brakes is well understood in the art.

Mounted in the trackway are two magnetic cores 10 and 11; one of these cores 10 is a permanent magnet and is therefore constantly magnetized; the other ACore 11 is of soft iron and is rovided with a winding 15 by means of which it may at times be mag netized. This winding 15 is provided'with a circuit which may be controlled in any suitable manner; as here shown it is controlled by a track relay R which is included in a track-circuit C. This track circuit C comprises portions ofy the track. irails Apl A electricallyf separated from ther 1 adwining portions by insulated joints 19, w19, aytrack battery 20v and' the relay.R. w Ther c1rcu 1t-..for l and that when this trackrel'ay R 1s closed,

core 11 will be magnetized provided the eircuit for winding 15 is not open at some other point.

Mounted on the vehicle B are two magnetic cores 12 and 13, both of which are of soft iron. The cores 12 and 13 are arranged to register respectively with the trackway cores 10 and 11, and as illustrated in Fi 2 the cores 12 and 13 are mounted so that t ey pass 1n close inductive relation with the cores 10 and 11 respectively as. theyehicle proceeds along the trackway. The core 12 is provided with a windin 18, and the core 1:3 1s provided with a winding 17. These windings are included in a circuit which includes aA source of current 33 and a relay 34, the circuit being from source 33 through wire 35, relay 34, wire 36, armature contact 37 of relay 34, wire 38, winding 17, wire 39, winding 18, wire 40 to source 33. The relay 34 controls the electromagnet M by means of the following circuit-from source of current 41 through wire 42, electromagnet M, wire 43, contact 44, wire 45, to source 41.

It will be seen from the foregoing that normally the relay 34 is energized from the source 33 and is therefore closed, so that magnet M is energized and the air brake valve V is therefore held closed. The circuit including relay 34 is however affected as the cores 12 and 13 pass over cores 10 and 11, in the manners which I will now explain.

I will `first assume that the track relay R is open due to the presence of a car or train in the track circuit C or to some other cause, so that the circuit of winding 15 is open and the core 11 is therefore de-magnetized. As the vehicle B approaches the track circuit C, the cores 12 and 13 pass over the-cores 10 and 11, and as the former cores approach the point at which they are exactly superposed upon the latter cores, the magnetized core 10 induces magnetic ux in core l2, which flux in turn induces a momentary voltage in `wiriciling 18. Core 13 is magnetized hence @athis avreaepraaehvs ver@ .11., n voltage is .educa may 11a-:21m: alegatos induced 1in il?? it; 'of `relay ,arefinl the .nl IHM, 1...'3 ,I L

Q arrasa@ same direction and their sum is equal and opposite to the voltage of battery 33, so relay 34 opens, thereby denergizing magnet M and applying the brakes. Since the circuit for relay 84 includes an armature contact 37 of the relay, it will be seen that when the relay 34 is once opened it will remain open until closed by some auxiliary means. The means which I have here shown comprises a branch around contact 37, which branch includes a circuit controller 46 which is normally open but can be closed by hand when necessary. This circuit controller 46 is preferably sealed, so that when it has been closed the fact will be indicated by the breakage of the seal.

Y T will now assume" that the track relay R is closed, and that the circuit of winding 15 is closed at all other points also, so that core 11 is magnetized. Under these conditions, as the cores 12 and 13 approach the point at which they are exactly superposed upon cores 10 and 11, magnetic flux will be induced in both of the cores 12 and 13 and the momentary voltages induced in the relay circuit are equal and opposite in direction so that they neutralize each other and therefore have no effect on the current flowing in the circuit due to battery 33., Hence relay 34 remains closed and the brakes are not applied.

T have found that the magnetism of a permanent magnet'will sometimes decrease or disappear entirely. To avoid either of these conditions, -I prefer to provide the permanent magnet 10 with a winding 16 by means of which the magnetism of this magnet may be maintained. This winding 16 is provided with a circuit which includes a source of current and a detecting means for indicating a cessation of current in the circuit; as here shown the circuit comprises a sourceof current 47, the winding 16 and a relay 21, all connected in series. As hereinbefore pointed out, the circuit for winding 15 includes contact 26 of relay 21, hence it will be seen that if the circuit for winding 16 becomes open or if the current in this circuit is reduced below a predetermined point, so that relay 21 opens, the circuit Jfor winding 15 is opened and the vehicle `l will be brought to a stop when it passes over the cores 10, 11.

By making| the core 10 a permanent magnet, and providing a normally energized winding 16 on this core to maintain the magnetism therein, and a detecting device to indicate cessation of current in the winding, I have eliminated practically all possibility of an undetected failure of magnetism in the core for the following reasons: Under normal conditions the core is magnetized both because of itsv own permanentA magnetism and because of the iiux induced by winding 16. Tf the current in winding 16 should fail, an indication of this fact would be given but the magnet 10 would retain its magnetism long enough to stop the vehicle. l have in the drawing shown a signal S governing traffic through the track circuit C. As here shown this signalis controlled both by the track relay R and by the detector relay 21, the circuit for the signal being from the source 22 through contact 28, wire 29, contact 30, wire 31, signal S, wire 32 tm. the source 22. With this arrangement of control it will be seen that if the current in winding 16 fails, signal S will indicate stop This control of the signal by relay 21 may however be omitted if desired, and in fact the signal itself is not essential and forms no part of my invention.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of traic controlling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modiiications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Y

Having thus described myinvention, what .l claim is 1. ln combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, two magneticv cores located in the trackway one of which cores is constantly magnetized, means for magnetizing and de-magnetizing the other core, means on the vehicle for governing said vehicle, a normally closed electric circuit on the vehicle including a source of current, a magnet included in said circuit for controlling the said governing means, two magnetic cores carried on the vehicle and arran ed to register respectively with the-two sai .cores in the trackway, a winding on each of the said vehicle-carried cores, said windings being included in the said electric circuit and so connected in said circuit that when both trackway cores are magnetized the voltages induced in the circuit when the vehicle cores pass over the trackway cores are in opposite directions and are substantially equal.- l

2. Tn combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, two magnetic cores located in the trackway one of which cores is constantly magnetized, means for magnetizing and de-magnetizing the other core, means on the vehicle for governing said vehicle, a normally closed elec tric circuit on the vehicle including a source of current, a magnet included in said circuit Jfor controlling the said governing means, two magnetic cores carried on the vehicle and arranged to register respectively with the two said cores in the trackway,. a wind ing on each of the said vehicle-carried cores said windings being included in the said electric circuit and so connected therein that when the vehicle-carried cores pass over the trackway cores, if the second-mentioned traekway core is de-magnetized the voltages induced in the windings of the vehicle cores will counteraccthe voltage in said circuit due to the said source and thereby le-magnetize the said magnet, but if the secondmentioned trackway core is magnetizedl the voltages induced in the windings ot the vehicle cores will neutralize each other and will therefore not aii'ect the current from the source in said circuit.

3. In combination with the tracltway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, two magnetic cores located in the trackway one of which cores is a permanent magnet, and the other a soft iron core, means for magnetizing and de-magnetizing the soft iron core, means on the vehicle .for governing said vehicle, a normally closed electric circuit on the vehicle including a source of current, a magnet included in said circuit for controlling the said governing means, two

,magnetic cores carried on the vehicle and arranged to register respectively with the two said cores in the trackway, a winding on each vehicle-carried core said windings being included'in said electric circuit and so connected therein that the voltages induced in the windings when the soft iron core is not 4magnetized will neutralize the voltage of the said source but that the voltages induced in said windings when the soft iron core is magnetized will neutralize each other thereby having n'o etlect on the current from said source.

4. In combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, two magnetic cores located in the trackway, one of which cores is a permanent magnet, and the other a soft iron core provided with an energizing winding, a track circuit including a track relay, a circuit for said energizing winding including a source ot' current which circuit is controlled by a front contact of the track relay, means on the vehicle for governing said vehicle, a normally closed electric circuit on the vehicle including a source of current and a magnet for controlling the said governing means, two magnetic cores carried by the vehicle and arranged to register respectively with the two said cores in the trackway, a winding on each vehiclecarried core said windings being included in said vehicle circuit and so connected therein that the voltages induced in 'the windings when the sot't iron core is demagnetized will neutralize the etfect of the source of current in the vehicle circuit but that the voltages induced in said windings when the soft iron is magnetized will neutralize each other thereby having no effect on the current in the vehicle circuit.

5. In combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, two magnetic cores located in the trackway one of which cores is a permanent magnet, and

the other a soft iron core, an energizing coil on the permanent magnet for maintaining the .magnetism therein, a circuit for said coil including a source of current and a relay, a coil on the other core and a circuit therefor controlled by said relay, other means for also controlling the last-mentioned circuit, means on the vehicle for governing said vehicle, a normally closed electric circuit on the vehicle including a source of current and means for controlling said governing means, two magnetic cores carried on the vehicle and mounted to register respectively with the two said cores in lthe tracltway, a winding on each vehicle carried core, said windings being included in said vehicle circuit and so connected therein that the voltages induced in said windings when the soft iron core is de-magnetized will neutralize the voltage in the vehicle circuit but that the voltages induced in said windings when the soft iron core is magnetized will neutralize each other and will therefore have no effect on the current in the vehicle circuit.

(3. In combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, a permanent magnet located in the trackway, a winding carrled by the vehicle and mounted to pass in inductive relation to said magnet, means on the vehicle controlled by the voltage induced in said winding by said magnet, a coil on said magnet for maintaining the magnetism of the magnet, a circuit for said coil including a source of current, and means controlled by said circuit for indicating the cessation of the current in the circuit. r

7. In combination with the trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, a permanent magnet located in the trackway, a winding carrled by the vehicle and mounted to pass in inductive relation to said magnet, means on the vehicle controlled by the voltage induced in said winding by said magnet, a coil on said magnet for maintaining the magnetism of the magnet, a circuit for said coil including a source of current, a relay controlled by said circuit, a railway signal, and a circuit for said signal controlled by said relay.

8. In combination with the,trackway of a railway and a vehicle traveling thereon, a permanent magnet on one ot' said members` a winding on the other member mounted to pass in inductive relation to the said magnet, means controlled by the voltage induced in said winding by the magnet, a coil on said magnet for maintaining the magnetism of the magnet, a circuit including said coil and a source of current, and means controlled by said circuit for indicating the cessation of current in the circuit.

9. In combination, a permanent magnet, railway traffic controlling apparatus controlled by said magnet, a coil on said mag- 61; i. Lucene net for meinteinin the magnetism of said maintaining the magnetism of seid magnet magnet, a, circuit or said coil including a a, circuit including said coil and a source of source of current, and means controlled by current, and means controlled by said cir- 15 said circuit for indicating a, cessation of cuit for indicating a. cessation ofvcurrent in n current in the circuit.. the circuit. v

10..An inductive device comprising e ln testimon whereof l aix my signature winding and a, ermanent magnet, .means for 1n presence o two Witnesses.

moving one o said members relatively to the other to induce voltage in the winding, Y BENJ ELN F' ULEB" 1o railwy traffic controllin apparatus con- Witnesses:

' trollecl by voltage induce in seid Winding Gus BLACKMORN,

by the magnet, a coil on the magnet for LAURA E. SMITH. 

